Public Safety Realignment and Proposition 47: Public Planning Sessions

(Woodland, CA) – Assembly Bill 109, Public Safety Realignment, was enacted in 2011 in an effort to reduce state prison overcrowding by placing supervision and incarceration responsibilities for non-serious, non-sexual and non-violent offenders with local county criminal justice systems. Adding to those responsibilities, Californians passed Proposition 47 in November which reduced penalties for certain offenders convicted of certain property and drug crimes and which allows certain offenders who have been previously convicted of such crimes to apply for reduced sentences. In addition, the measure requires any state savings that result be spent to support truancy (unexcused absences) prevention, mental health and substance abuse treatment, and victim services.

To aid Yolo County in strengthening its related planning efforts in response to these system changes, a series of informational public planning sessions throughout the county are scheduled for April. Yolo County Chief Probation Officer Brent Cardall will lead the sessions, along with other members of the Yolo County Criminal Justice Cabinet.

“Community participation and input is a vital component of our collaborative policy development approach in Yolo County,” said Yolo County Chief Probation Officer Brent Cardall. All interested residents of Yolo County are encouraged to attend.”